Centering: The Asian American Christian Podcast

Since the 90s, Filipino Americans have been the 2nd largest Asian American population - but are often overlooked in the "Asian American" conversation. This week, Asian American scholar Dr. Melissa Borja joins Jane and Tim to speak on the distinctive history and religious life of Filipino Americans.

Many Vietnamese Americans did not make a choice to come to the US - they were forced to leave their country by US imperialism and its widescale displacement, destruction, and death. Dr. Phuong Nguyen joins Tim and Jane this week to speak about the experiences, identity, and faith of the Vietnamese community.

100 years ago, Mabel Ping-Hua Lee rode a horse through the streets of New York, fighting for women's right to vote. She was also a Christian leader who bought a Chinatown church and fought against racism and sexism in her denomination. Professor Grace May joins Tim and Jane to share about the life of this incredible Asian American Christian leader.

Bishop Roy Sano was incarcerated during World War II, led the fight for a distinct Asian American voice in the United Methodist Church, and directed the groundbreaking work of PACTS, the Pacific and Asian American Center for Theologies and Strategies. This week, he joins Tim and Jane to share his lived insights on Asian American Christian history.

Activist Yuri Kochiyama held Malcolm X as he died. She was a Sunday School teacher, American concentration camp survivor, and activist leader. Ethicist Dr. Grace Kao joins Jane and Tim this week to share how Yuri's Christian upbringing grounded her organizing, and can be a model for Asian American Christians engaging in racial justice.

We're back! This season, historians Dr. Tim Tseng and Professor Jane Hong guide us through our Asian American Christian history. This first episode, they start by answering the question: why should anyone - Asian Americans and/or Christians - care about such a specific field?

Minari, from director Lee Isaac Chung and A24 Films, is a haunting and rich sketch of a Korean American family in 1980s Arkansas. It won the US Dramatic Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award at 2020 Sundance. After a screening of the film co-hosted by Fuller Seminary's Reel Spirituality and Asian American Center, Eugene Suen interviewed Lee Isaac Chung and Harry Yoon, the film's editor, on questions of identity, culture, faith, and filmmaking.

In the final episode of their season, Der and Melba are joined by Hmong American pastor Second Yang to discuss the surprising and overlooked ways that language can have an impact on our faith, fellowship, and worshipping communities

Der and Melba listen and respond to diverse Asian American men's voices, describing their experiences of community. What do they look for, find, and lack in their communities, and how can churches and Christian communities do a better job of caring for them?

Dr. Daniel D. Lee of Fuller Seminary joins us this week to speak about ancestral religion, Christian faith, and syncretism: how can Asian American Christian communities relate to ancestral spirituality in a healthy and Gospel-centered way?

On this episode of Centering, Caroline Lancaster (Associate Director for Multiethnic Initiatives, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship) joins Der and Melba to examine acculturation and internalized racism as it relates to belonging to a Christian community.

Today on Centering, Der and Melba speak with multiethnic ministry expert Kathy Moua (InterVarsity Christian Fellowship) about the ways that Christian communities can specifically care for Asian American women.

In this episode, minister Larry Varghese joins Der and Melba to talk about the joys and challenges of building community in his Indian American Mar Thoma congregation. Centering is produced by Jason Chu, engineered by Alexander Catedral, with music by Mark Redito.

In Centering, the Asian American Christian podcast, Hmong American minister Der Lor and Indian American therapist Melba Mathew explore how our communities are nurtured, built, and supported. In this episode, Der and Melba share about the tension and unity between their ethnic (Hmong, Indian) and racial (Asian American) identities. Centering is produced by Jason Chu, engineered by Alexander Catedral, with music by Mark Redito.

In "Being Community", this new season of Centering, Hmong American minister Der Lor and Indian American therapist Melba Mathew dive into the many ways Asian American Christian communities can be nurtured, built, and supported. For the first episode of the season, recorded during the COVID-19 global pandemic, Melba and Der look at the ways that Asian American community values are being challenged - or embraced - during this unprecedented time. Centering is produced by Jason Chu, engineered by Alexander Catedral, with music by Mark Redito.

Daniel D. Lee, Assistant Professor of Theology and Asian American Ministry at Fuller Theological Seminary, speaks on the theological imperative that Black Lives Matter for Asian American Christians.

InterVarsity Campus Minister Benita Isaac shares her thoughts on life under COVID-19. How is quarantine a little like daily life as a South Asian American Christian woman?

In our fourth and final Heritage Month devotional, Jessica ChenFeng, PhD, LMFT, Associate Director of Physician Vitality at Loma Linda University Health, speaks on the way that God's love for us can transform how Asian Americans see ourselves, our bodies, and our communities. For AAPI Heritage Month 2020, Centering is presenting devotionals from our friends in ministry and academia.

This AAPI Heritage Month, Centering is presenting devotionals from our friends in ministry and academia. In our third Heritage Month devotional, Linson Daniel, Associate Pastor at Metro Church in Dallas, TX and Senior Advisor and Consultant for InterVarsity, speaks on "Discipleship in South Asian Bodies".

This AAPI Heritage Month, Centering is presenting devotionals from our friends in ministry and academia. In our second Heritage Month devotional, Professor Jane Hong, PhD., a historian specializing in migration and race, shares about the history of anti-Asian exclusion and violence, and what faithful Christian discipleship can look like in Asian American bodies.

Historian, and pastor Tim Tseng, PhD., speaks about the roots of pan-ethnic Asian American identity and how we, as Asian American Christians, can understand our shared identity theologically and historically. This AAPI Heritage Month, several of our friends in ministry and academia will be sharing devotionals on Asian American Christian discipleship.

In October, Fuller's Asian American Center hosted a panel, "The State of Asian American Psychology: Invisibility, Microaggressions, and White Normativity". In the third talk of the evening, Jessica ChenFeng, PhD, LMFT, and author of the book "Finding Your Voice as a Beginning Marriage and Family Therapist", addressed the topic of "Psychology, Race, and Evangelicalism".

In October, Fuller's Asian American Center hosted a panel, "The State of Asian American Psychology: Invisibility, Microaggressions, and White Normativity". In the second talk of the evening, Alvin Alvarez, PhD, co-author of the definitive textbook "Asian American Psychology: Current Perspectives", addressed the question: "Does Race Matter for Asian Americans?" As part of his lecture, Dr. Alvarez played the short film "Vincent Who?" (2009), which can be viewed here: (Part 1): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKSq8iuNHsk (Part 2): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvNEkHWGweY https://vincentwhomovie.com

In October, Fuller's Asian American Center hosted a panel, "The State of Asian American Psychology: Invisibility, Microaggressions, and White Normativity". In the first talk of the evening, Nita Tewari, PhD, co-author of the definitive textbook "Asian American Psychology: Current Perspectives", addressed the question: "What Is Asian American Psychology?"

Shame can be harmful - but by cultivating habits of compassion, we can take steps to intentionally change how we relate to ourselves and others when we fall short. Therapist Natasha Subadya joins Jessica for this episode of Centering, discussing how she assists Asian American Christians with healing their relationship to shame and creating healthier individuals, families, churches, and communities.

Asian America - including our churches and pastors - has a problem with sex addiction. What separates a healthy sex drive from an addiction? How can we reduce stigma, isolation and judgment in our churches and replace it with growth and the work of healing? This week, marriage and family therapist Roy Kim joins Jessica to talk about his own experiences with sex addiction and counseling.

Our childhood family dynamics, internalized context, partner relationship, and so many other factors all have an impact on our parenting! This week, Rukshan Fernando (Interim Provost, Azusa Pacific University) joins Jessica for a discussion of Asian American Christian parenting: fostering self-awareness and exploring history to support our parenting, along with overcoming internalized racism/sexism, and cultivating a healthy partner relationship.

Marriage is hard! But with help, it's possible to make it through alive. In this episode, expert married couple Scott and Sandra So Hee Chi Kim join Jessica ChenFeng to break down what's worked (and what didn't) in their marriage, from family-of-origin dynamics, internalized contexts, and how partner relationships can impact parenting.

Dating. Romance. Love. In many Asian American Christian circles, these are topics of perpetual fascination. But so are toxic relationships, fear-laden dating culture, and even cycles of abuse. This week, Melba Mathew (Associate Marriage & Family Therapist) joins us to discuss building relationships that have the capacity for authenticity, connection, and mutuality.

Our connection with our parents - or the lack thereof - is a source of tension for many Asian Americans. This week, Dr. Barbara W. Kim (Vice Chair of Asian American Studies, CSU Long Beach), joins Jessica to discuss the challenges of relating to our parents. Why it is so difficult? How can we pursue healing? And what words of experience would she offer listeners who are having a hard time with their own parents?

The Reverend Jeney Park-Hearn joins us to discuss how churches, as the primary space through which Asian American Christians gain an understanding about mental/relational health, can support and assist us in our mental well-being.

Where does mental health - or stress - come from? Is it an individual and intrapsychic issue, or does it come from the social reality of our contextual identity and sociopolitical realities? For this conversation, Jessica is joined by Lana Kim, Associate Professor of Counseling Psychology at Lewis and Clark Graduate School of Education and Counseling.

We're back! It's season 3 of CENTERING: the Asian American Christian Podcast. This season, our new host Dr. Jessica ChenFeng will be guiding us through a series of topics on psychology and mental health. For this episode, she joins Professor Migum Gweon of Fuller Seminary as they explore how we understand mental and relationship health as it relates to faith, culture, and race in our Asian American context.

Even over the past 12 months, Asian American representation has made historical breakthroughs into popular culture. How do we, as Asian American Christians, think about these new developments? For this final episode of Season 2, Irene welcomes sociologist Nancy Wang Yuen (author, "Reel Inequality" - www.nancywyuen.com) and rapper/poet Jason Chu (www.jasonchumusic.com)!

Culture is evolving at a faster pace than ever before. How can our conversations with Asian American Youth also evolve, growing deeper and better? Join the conversation between our guests Jane Hong-Guzman de Leon, Rosanna Suh, and Kevin Ahn, along with host Irene Cho, on this week's episode of Centering!

A good & growing number of Asian American Christians are involved and engaged with justice work in our communities. But why does it seem like the Asian American Church can be so silent on the issues of social justice and activism? Join Kevin Doi (Minister; Founder, JOYA Scholars) and Jane Hong (Pastor; Social Media Coordinator, ISAAC), along with our host Irene M. Cho, for a conversation about social justice and Asian American Christians.

It’s been said that the next generation will be the most blended of all. Susie Gamez (https://www.womenspeakerscollective.com/susie-gamez) and Erina Kim-Eubanks (https://twitter.com/erinaspeaks) join us to discuss the struggles and joys of being married to a non-Asian partner and raising biracial children.

Let’s talk about dealing with and surviving toxic White spaces as Asian American Christians. Nikita Joy (www.joyhomemade.com) and Dr. Joyce Del Rosario (www.joycedelrosario.com) visit Irene for an episode of Centering on self-care and survival amidst microaggressions and marginalization.

Why does Christian culture have such an obsession with marriage, while young people are getting married later, or not at all? This week, Gio Panginda and Jen Hananouchi, both from the Fuller Youth Institute, join us to talk about their experiences as single leaders in the Asian American Christian church.

This week, we feature a conversation between two women ministers as they discuss toxic masculinity and Asian American church culture. Ruby Varghese of Quest Church joins Irene for an episode of Centering about women leadership in Asian American churches.

This week, we're exploring the #ChurchToo movement: How has the conversation around sexual harassment and assault impacted what the church is to people? Irene is joined by Erin, a minister and chaplain, as they discuss their experiences as survivors and Christian ministers.

We're back! It's season 2 of CENTERING: the Asian American Christian Podcast. This week, our new host Irene Cho, joins Angie Hong (www.angiekayhong.com), SueAnn Shiah (www.sueannshiah.com), and Julie Tai (www.fuller.edu/chapel) to talk Asian American worship: what does it look like, where does it start, and what's our future?

We preach the gospel not in words or actions, but with our whole lives—for better or worse. We must be self-aware, especially when reaching across cultures. In this seminar delivered at Urbana 2018, Professor Daniel D. Lee (Fuller Seminary) tackles the surprisingly difficult task of really knowing ourselves, in all our racial, ethnic, cultural, socioeconomic, relational, and embodied identities.

From the transcontinental railroad to agriculture in California’s central valley, Asian Americans played a crucial role in the formation of our nation. So why does the American popular imagination so lack the voices of Asian Americans? Based on the work of Professor Gary Okihiro, Dr. Daniel D. Lee of Fuller Seminary's Asian American Center explored the question: "Is Yellow Black or White?" in this lunch seminar co-hosted with the Racial Justice Initiative.

From the transcontinental railroad to agriculture in California’s central valley, Asian Americans played a crucial role in the formation of our nation. So why does the American popular imagination so lack the voices of Asian Americans? Based on the work of Professor Gary Okihiro, Dr. Daniel D. Lee of Fuller Seminary's Asian American Center explored the question: "Is Yellow Black or White?" in this lunch seminar co-hosted with the Racial Justice Initiative.

From the transcontinental railroad to agriculture in California’s central valley, Asian Americans played a crucial role in the formation of our nation. So why does the American popular imagination so lack the voices of Asian Americans? Based on the work of Professor Gary Okihiro, Dr. Daniel D. Lee of Fuller Seminary's Asian American Center explored the question: "Is Yellow Black or White?" in this lunch seminar co-hosted with the Racial Justice Initiative.

For the final episode of our first season, "The Big Questions", we're talking ethnic churches. Kevin and Daniel talk about the pressure for churches to be superficially "multi-ethnic", the need for ethnic-specific Christian spaces, and how Asian American faith can paint "a portrait of heaven" just as much as an overtly multi-cultural church.

Centering welcomes our first guest: Cambodian-American minister Ken Kong, the founder of Southeast Asian Ministries (http://seasianministries.com). Ken shares about his family's story of immigration and faith, his experience as a Southeast Asian American in Asian American circles, and the important work going on in Cambodian and Southeast Asian Christian communities.

This week, Pastor Kevin Doi and Professor Daniel D. Lee discuss how our relationship with our parents sets out a "script" for us - and how we deal with those expectations for the rest of our lives in marriage, child-raising, and church.

This week on the Centering podcast, Kevin Doi and Professor Daniel Lee of Fuller Seminary discuss: how can we fix the Asian American church? After asking what this question means - and why it resonates with so many Asian American Christians - Kevin and Daniel explore the topics of internalized self-hatred, the need for practical resources for Asian American Christian communities, and how to lovingly build up the church.

In our fourth episode, host Kevin Doi and Professor Daniel Lee of Fuller Seminary discuss preaching, asking: Why do sermons die? After discussing how the purpose of sermon is to present the Living Word of God, Kevin and Professor Lee dig into the elements of a good sermon; the signs of good preaching; and a word of encouragement for pastors.

In our third episode, host Kevin Doi and Professor Daniel Lee of Fuller Seminary address a deceptively simple-sounding question: what IS Asian America? Daniel describes the complexity of Asian Americans, from our diverse backgrounds to our national history of legalizing race. He also outlines "the Asian American Quadrilateral", a tool to help Christians and Christian leaders understand what Asian America shares in common - and even what we don't.

In our second episode, host Kevin Doi and Professor Daniel Lee of Fuller Seminary ask: do our stories matter to God? Daniel explains how being rooted in a particular context can avoid tribalism and nationalism, but see our experiences as giving God specific glory as the author of our stories. For example, calling God "a good father" can mean very different things depending on our experiences with our own fathers.

On the first season of Centering, we're addressing "the big questions." In this first episode, host Kevin Doi sits down with Professor Daniel Lee (Fuller Seminary) to ask: why start a podcast? Daniel shares with us how our specific stories can bring glory to God, and why it is so important for the church to make the connections between our Asian American-ness and our Christianity.